How to Remove Your PIN on Windows 11 (Step-by-Step)

If you no longer want to unlock your Windows 11 PC with a PIN, you can remove it from the Sign-in options screen in a couple of minutes. You’ll need to know your account password first, since Windows uses it as a fallback once the PIN is gone. Here’s exactly where to go and what to expect along the way.

Quick steps

Go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
Select PIN (Windows Hello).
Choose Remove, then confirm when prompted.
Enter your account password if asked, to verify it’s you.

Before you start

A few quick checks will save you a headache:

You’ll need your Microsoft account password or local account password handy, since the PIN removal process may ask you to confirm your identity with it.
You need to be signed in as the account owner (or have admin access to that account) to change its sign-in method.
On a work or school managed device, the Remove button may be greyed out because an organization policy requires a PIN. That’s expected behavior and not something you can bypass from Settings.
Removing the PIN doesn’t delete your Windows account or any files. It just turns off that one sign-in method.

Remove the PIN on Windows 11 (Settings app)

This is the standard method for personal and most work PCs where you’re not restricted by company policy.

Open Start and click Settings (or press the gear icon).
Select Accounts from the left-hand menu.
Click Sign-in options.
Under the list of sign-in methods, select PIN (Windows Hello) to expand it.
Click Remove.
Confirm the action in the pop-up that appears.
If prompted, type your account password to verify your identity.

Once that’s done, Windows 11 will drop back to asking for your password (or whichever other sign-in method you’ve still got set up, like a security key or Windows Hello face recognition) the next time you lock or restart your PC.

If you also want to stop Windows asking you to set up a PIN

After removing an existing PIN, Windows may still prompt you to create a new one later, especially after updates or when signing in again. If you’d rather not deal with that nudge:

Go back to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
Check whether a setting related to requiring sign-in options or a PIN prompt appears on your device. This can vary depending on whether your PC is personal or managed by an organization.
If your device is joined to a work or school account, this behavior is often controlled centrally and won’t be changeable from your end. Your IT team would need to adjust the Windows Hello for Business policy for your account.

If it doesn’t work

The Remove button is greyed out

This usually means your PC is enrolled in a company or school management system that enforces Windows Hello for Business, which requires a PIN for security reasons. You won’t be able to remove it yourself. Contact your IT administrator if you believe the policy shouldn’t apply to your device.

Windows asks for the PIN again after you removed it

Make sure the removal actually completed, meaning you clicked Remove and confirmed with your password rather than just closing the window. If it’s still showing up, sign out and back in, or restart the PC, then check Sign-in options again to confirm PIN (Windows Hello) no longer shows an active PIN.

You forgot your PIN and can’t get into Settings

If you’re locked out because you forgot the PIN rather than wanting to remove it, use the I forgot my PIN link on the sign-in screen instead. That walks you through resetting it with your account password, after which you can go into Settings and remove it for good if you’d rather not use a PIN at all.

If you don’t have another sign-in method set up (like a password, security key, or Windows Hello face/fingerprint), you could end up stuck. Always confirm you have a working password before removing the PIN. If you’re already locked out, you may need to use your Microsoft account’s password recovery options from another device.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need my password to remove the PIN?

Yes, in most cases Windows will ask you to confirm your identity with your account password before it lets you remove the PIN. Make sure you know it before you start.

No, removing the PIN only turns off that specific sign-in method. If you’ve also set up Windows Hello face recognition or a fingerprint, those stay active separately unless you remove them too from the same Sign-in options screen.

Can I use Windows 11 without a PIN at all?

Yes, on personal devices you can rely on just your account password to sign in once the PIN is removed. Some managed work or school devices require a PIN by policy and won’t let you turn it off.

Why is the Remove option missing or disabled?

This typically happens on devices enrolled in a workplace or school’s device management system, where Windows Hello for Business policies require a PIN. If that’s the case, only your organization’s IT admin can change the requirement.

Does removing the PIN make my PC less secure?

A PIN tied to your device is generally considered a strong sign-in method since it’s local to that machine. If you remove it and rely only on a password, make sure that password is strong and unique, since it will become your main way in.

Sources

Windows Hello for Business Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (Microsoft Learn)